Phlox plant named ‘USPHL03M’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘USPHLO3M’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant form; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and short internodes; dense and busy plant habit; freely and continuous flowering habit; purple and white bi-colored flowers; and relative tolerance to high temperatures.

Botanical designation: Phlox hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USPHLO3M’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox, botanically known as Phlox hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USPHLO3M’.

The new Phlox is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Phlox hybrida cultivar USPHLO3, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,846. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Aichi, Japan on Apr. 20, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox by cuttings in a controlled environment in Aichi, Japan since Jun. 8, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar USPHLO3M has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USPHLO3M’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USPHLO3M’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant form.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit and short internodes; dense and busy         plant habit.     -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Purple and white bi-colored flowers.     -   6. Relatively tolerant to high temperatures.

Plants of the new Phlox and the parent, the cultivar USPHL03, differ primarily in flower coloration as plants of the cultivar USPHL03 have dark purple-colored flowers with a red purple-colored star pattern at the center.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Spinners, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,380. Plants of the new Phlox and the cultivar Spinners differ primarily in plant form and flower color as plants of the cultivar Spinners are mostly upright and have red purple-colored flowers with white stripes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USPHLO3M’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘USPHLO3M’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the late summer in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 24° C. After planting rooted young plants, plants had been growing for about five weeks when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox hybrida cultivar USPHLO3M. -   Parentage: Branch mutation of the Phlox hybrida cultivar USPHL03,     disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,846. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one to two weeks.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant.—About three to four weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding             plant form; vigorous growth habit. Freely branching habit,             about five main laterals each with about six secondary             laterals; relatively short internodes; dense and bushy plant             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 27 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 68 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 27 cm. Diameter: About             1.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic to lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Clasping to slightly auriculate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; slightly             glandular; rough.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: 137B. Developing             leaves, lower surface: 137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: 137A; venation, 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: 137B; venation, 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate and salverform flowers             arranged in short cymes of four to five flowers each;             flowers face upright and outward. Freely flowering habit             with about 200 flower buds and flowers developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering year round             in Southern California. Flowers not persistent.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four to five             days on the plant.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Elliptic. Color: 145D.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.5 cm to 5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, at base.—About 2 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe             length: About 1.2 cm. Lobe width: About 1.1 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, petal lobes             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Texture,             throat: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, tube: Pubescent. Color:             Developing petals, upper surface: 155A; central radiating             stripes, 71A. Developing petals, lower surface: 157B. Fully             expanded petals, upper surface: 155A; central radiating             stripes, 77A; color becoming closer to 77B with development.             Fully expanded petals, lower surface: 155B; faint radiating             stripes, 84D. Flower throat: 157D. Flower tube: 157A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused towards the base into a slender tube. Length:             About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 45° to about 55° from peduncle axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm.             Anther diameter: About 1 mm. Anther color: 12A. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 12A. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape:             Three-parted. Stigma color: 145D. Style length: About 2 mm.             Style color: 145C. Ovary color: 145A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have not been noted     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 40° C.; relatively     tolerant to high temperatures. 

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘USPHLO3M’ as illustrated and described. 